Low temperature rise condenser and pump package

ABSTRACT

A low temperature rise condenser and pump system combining condensers and pumps with a siphon-type water circuit. The arrangement achieves a low temperature gradient in the cooling water circuit by the use of large volumes of water with a low energy expenditure.

United States Patent m1 Palmer et al. I Jan. 16, 1973 54 LOW TEMPERATURE RISE 725,212 4/1903 Brown 165/1 13 CONDENSER AND PUMP PACKAGE 1,466,703 9 1923 Dow ..l65/l I2 [75] Inventors: William E. Palmer, Easton, Pa.; Wil- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS washngtm" 725,427 3/1955 Great Britain ..l65/l 11 [73] Assignee: IngersolI-Rand Company, New

York Primary Examiner-Albert W. Davis, Jr. AttrneyCarl R. Horten, David W. Tibbotl and [22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1970 Frank S Troid] 21 A I. No.: 93 067 I 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT U S Cl 165/113 165/111 60/95 R A low temperature rise condenser and pump system I F28b 9 10 combining condensers and pumps with a siphon-type 51 In. water circuit The arrangement achieves a low [58] FleId of Search I I, II2, II3, I14; perature gradient in the coolin water circuit b the g Y /95 R use of large volumes of water with a low energy expenditure. [5 6] References Cited 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,094,165 6/1963 Droescher ..I/I ll X ,3 9' 22 I8 40 38 E z 24 I8 A 2} l8 20 ,fl /l H z p r g I8 32 A .6 L

1 26 A, w M/flX -I-l/J-Y-vl v zJ-rr/f. l w- W n/ a w/m/z xx: 9750/ 1/ 42 1; 7 7 2a k I 1/ u we 1 PATENTEU AH 1 I 7 3,710,856

- sum 1 or 3 lNVENTOR S l8 l8 W/LL/AM E. PALMER W/LL/AM E. JONES ATTORNEY rI'IO yam/,

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INVENTORS WILL/AM E. PALMER WILL/4 E'. JONES ATTORNEY LOW TEMPERATURE RISE CONDENSER AND PUMP PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a system for the control of source water temperature, particularly to prevent its increase above a predetermined maximum allowable value as a consequence of discharging heated water from a power plant.

Usually, power generating stations and manufacturing plants discharge heated water at such high temperatures that the ecological balance of the area is disturbed, or the maximum temperature permitted by the municipality or state is exceeded. For very large installations the conventional cooling tower has proven either prohibitively expensive or only partially effective. The traditional arrangement of steam turbines, surface condensers, and associated circulating and condensate pumps involves the transportation of large amounts of cooling water through hundreds of linear feet of appropriately sized piping between the cooling water source and the power plant building. Temperature rises from F through 30 F are common, and the discharge from the tubes is usually downstream to avoid recirculation of the heat. Increasing concern over the environment has led to restrictions that limit the total temperature rise across a given installation to progressively smaller gradients.

One object of this invention is to minimize the temperature rise between the inlet and outlet of power plant cooling water by taking the steam emanation from a low pressure turbine directly to the cooling water source. The installation of a power plant structure close to the cooling water as is physically and economically possible permits the use of greater volumes of cooling water per unit of heat to be removed.

Another object of this invention is to eliminate the need for cooling towers by the arrangement of a lowprofile condenser and pump system.

A further object is to produce a siphon-type water circuit so that the total circulating pump head will be only that necessary to overcome the friction and inertia of the system designed to handle the total cooling water flow.

Other objectives and advantages will become apparent from a study of the following description taken with the drawings in which FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of turbine house, condenser structures, and inlet bays, showing the environment in which the invention operates. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal elevation view showing one embodiment of the proposes structure; FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the vent tube for non-condensables; and FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of the condenser structure in partial section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a typical operation the cooling water would enter a plurality of concrete entrance bays generally indicated by 10. These feed into one or more circulating pump suction connections 12 for distribution of the cooling water by circulating pumps 14 into compartment 16 which functions as the water box of this surface condenser. The cooling water enters a plurality of tubes 18 which are condensing surfaces selectively arranged in tube sheets 20 within an inclined housing 22 and discharges into the lower section of compartment 16 for ultimate return to the cooling water source. Steam is conducted from a low pressure turbine through a passageway 24 which leads to the array of tubes 18. The tube sheets 20 and side walls provide a tunnel, and the tubes present a tortuous path for the steam to traverse. As the steam condenses on the exterior of the tube walls, the condensate 26 flows down the incline to the collection chamber 28 where it is collected in trays 30 for reheating and de-aeration. Heating of the trays is accomplished through a bypass 32 of some of the steam from the turbine. The condensate then discharges into a condensate pump 34 for pressure elevation and return to the feed water system.

A cooling water vent connection 36 is provided in the inlet compartment 16 for positive removal of air or other entrained gases in the circulating water. Positive venting of chamber 16 reduces the work required of the circulating pump 14. Similarly, vents 38 provide a means for removal of non-condensables in the steam. The non-condensables are collected for exhausting through vent 38 by baffles 44. For more efficient operation of the air removal system, vents 38 may be provided with fins 40 or a spiral shape to enhance the pre-cooling effect of the inlet water in chamber 16 on the gases in the vents 38.

The lower profile of the entire system and the submersion of the bays l0 and outlets 42 result in a siphontype water circuit. This reduces the work required of the circulating pump to that necessary to overcome the friction and inertia of the system. In operation, this system makes it possible to circulate the volume of water needed for the lower temperature gradients required by heat pollution legislation. Its low profile is less obtrusive than a cooling tower and less productive of fog. The system is particularly adaptive to special geographic situations such as an isthmus or cove.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided an efficient low-temperature rise condenser and pump package which is highly reliable and which will assure that downstream temperatures will not exceed safe or permissible values. Although we have described one embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that this is by ,way of illustration only and that various changes and modifications may be made within the contemplation of this invention and within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a water source temperature controlled system having a feed water system;

a compartment having a water inlet comprising a plurality of concrete bays for receiving water from the water source, the bays being partially submerged in the source, and a water outlet for returning water to the source",

an inclined housing in the compartment, the housing having heat exchange members comprising a plurality of tube sheets and tubes generally inclined from the vertical and positioned so that the water will flow through the heat exchange members, said housing also having a steam inlet at a higher end and a condensate outlet at a lower end;

a condensate pump positioned to return condensate to the feed water system; and

at least one circulating pump positioned to overcome hydraulic friction in the cooling water circuit.

2. The water source temperature controlled system the compartment to reheat and de-aerate the colof claim 1, in wh ch lected condensate, said trays being heated by at least one vent connection is provided in the com- Steam b means,

Panmem for gases entrained in the cooling wine 3. The water source temperature controlled system a tube to vent non-condensables is connected to the 5 steam side of the heat exchange members and is partially submersively positioned in the inlet water in the compartment; and

reheating trays are arranged within the lower end of of claim 1 wherein the vent for non-condensables entrained in the steam includes means having fins to precool the non-condensables. 

1. In a water source temperature controlled system having a feed water system; a compartment having a water inlet comprising a plurality of concrete bays for receiving water from the water source, the bays being partially submerged in the source, and a water outlet for returning water to the source; an inclined housing in the compartment, the housing having heat exchange members comprising a plurality of tube sheets and tubes generally inclined from the vertical and positioned so that the water will flow through the heat exchange members, said housing also having a steam inlet at a higher end and a condensate outlet at a lower end; a condensate pump positioned to return condensate to the feed water system; and at least one circulating pump positioned to overcome hydraulic friction in the cooling water circuit.
 2. The water source temperature controlled system of claim 1, in which at least one vent connection is provided in the compartment for gases entrained in the cooling water; a tube to vent non-condensables is connected to the steam side of the heat exchange members and is partially submersively positioned in the inlet water in the compartment; and reheating trays are arranged within the lower end of the compartment to reheat and de-aerate the collected condensate, said trays being heated by steam by-pass means.
 3. The water source temperature controlled system of claim 1 wherein the vent for non-condensables entrained in the steam includes means having fins to precool the non-condensables. 